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Carlos Vela may be MLS -bound

Carlos Vela could be Major League Soccerbound but the Mexican international won't be making a move until the summer of 2016 at the earliest.

A league source tellsMetrothat the 26-year old attacker forReal Sociedad has genuine interest from several MLS clubs but that any potential move won't happen in time for the start of the league's season. Instead, like compatriot Giovani dos Santos who arrived last July to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy, Vela would be a mid-summer signing.

"Real Sociedadwon'tsell until summer," the league source tells Yahoo. "[No deal] for now."

Vela admitted last summer that MLS teams were pursuing his services. Now with the player in a massive scoring drought, a big-money transfer to MLS could be in the offing.

His most likely landing spot would be the Colorado Rapids, who hold the discovery rights on the player. It would make sense from the perspective that the Rapids, one of the league's worst scoring teams last year, would get someone who, when in form, can be adevastatingstriker.

But it isn't a foregone conclusion that Vela will be a Rapid.

A second league source told Metro that the San Jose Earthquakes and Chicago Fire have both expressed "high level of interest in Carlos," meaning that there are trade partners lining up for Vela. It would be an ironic twist for the Fire, who traded away the rights for Didier Drogba last season to the Montreal Impact. But right now, it appears that Vela and the Rapids are in a dance that could have him Mile High by July of next year.

He also would be a highly marketable face for the Rapids in a state that is over 21 percent Hispanic. The Rapids were bottom of the league last year, averaging 15,657fans. Mexico has drawn well in international matches in the state, further underscoring the impact he could have on and off the pitch.

Outside of his time as a youth player, Vela has spent the entirety of his professional career in Europe, signing with Arsenal and then enduring multiple loans for playing time. He finally found a home at Sociedad, signing a permanent move with the team in 2012.

He continues to be a regular with the Mexican national team including this past summer's Gold Cup, won by Mexico.

Multiple league sources tell Yahoo that Vela indeed has legitimate interest in signing with the league this summer but that it will come down "to dollars as he still has interest from Europe and Mexico."